Page 121 of Freshmeet
“Kimmy!” I shouted, pulling out my cell to use as a flashlight.
There was no answer, and I sighed.
I guess I’m going to the treehouse. I’d better not see Linc’s ass—again.
The gentle hum of bugs followed me deeper into the small woods. I hadn’t missed the whole nature thing while I was away at school, and I could honestly say I wasn’t thrilled to be reliving my “glory days.”
Rounding the last turn, my steps slowed. A dim light shone in the tree house, but there was no noise.
“Kimmy? Linc? You up there?”
Nothing.
I stepped closer, the bright light of my phone landing on the ground beneath the rope ladder.
What is that?
At the base of the tree was a puddle of dark liquid. I squatted, shining the light directly on it.
My heart raced, and I fell back on my ass, dropping my phone.
It’s fucking blood.
“Kimmy?” I screamed. Shuffling backward, I whipped my head back and forth, searching for my injured friend.
The boards of the treehouse creaked, and the light went out.
Swallowing, I slowly stood. “Kimmy?” Her name came out as a whisper, my throat too tight to be any louder. My heart thumped wildly as I inched closer to the tree.
“Are you up there?” I said, grabbing a hold of the rope ladder. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to run, but my best friend was somewhere hurt. I couldn’t just leave her out there alone.
I hooked my foot in the bottom rung of the ladder and hoisted myself up.
Swatting away a mosquito, I looked up into the dark opening, and the treehouse groaned. A hand fell into view, and I called out, “Kimmy?”
There was a scuffling inside the tree house, and then something heavy fell, knocking me clear off the ladder and onto my back. Gasping for air, I struggled to sit up, only to find my legs pinned under a heavy weight.
What the?—
Spots filled my vision as I shoved the wet lump off my thighs. Every inch of my body hurt, but I managed to free my legs.
Huffing out a relieved laugh, I wiped the sweat from my brow and paused. The smell of copper filled my nose, and I slowly brought my hand in front of my face.
“No,” I whimpered, my gaze drifting away from my bloody fingers to the heap in front of me.
I scrambled to my hands and feet, searching the ground around me for my phone. Every reach made my sides scream in pain, but my fingertips finally grazed cracked glass.
My hands shook as I pointed the flashlight toward the shadowed mass.
“No,” I sobbed, scrambling forward as if I could do anything to help.
Linc’s body was contorted into an unnatural shape, his head bent backward as his lifeless eyes stared into my very soul.
Before I could process the horror in front of me, a second body dropped on top of Linc, a wild arm hitting me on top of the head.
Even face down, I knew it was Kimmy.
Shrieking, I struggled to my feet, then took off down the path, losing my phone somewhere in my escape.
